Virtual environment module bundle

ABSTRACT

A method for providing virtual world functionality to a user of a base virtual world having base virtual world functionality, includes providing a virtual world layer having virtual world layer functionality beyond the base virtual world functionality, encapsulating the virtual world layer to provide a virtual world module and transmitting the virtual world module to virtual world layer infrastructure to provide a transmitted virtual world module. The transmitted virtual world module is executed to provide user access to the base virtual world functionality and the virtual world layer functionality.

BACKGROUND

This invention relates generally to field of virtual worlds and moreparticularly to the development, use and operation of a virtual world.

A virtual world is a computer-base simulated environment intended forits residents to traverse, inhabit and interact, often through the useof avatars. An avatar is a graphical element selected by a user of asystem that other users can see and which represents the user. Avatarsoften take the form of cartoon-like humans, but any other graphical ornon graphical representation is possible. For example, an avatar may bea static image, a computer-generated animation or a point of view notperceivable to other participants in the virtual world. Users orresidents of a virtual world can interact through their avatars using amyriad of communication and collaboration technologies including, butnot limited to, known chat-room technology. For example, to mimic thebehavior of real life human interactions, when an avatar speaks a textwindow can appear on the user interface of the other users whose avatarsare within hearing range of the speaking avatar using known chat-roomtechnology. Audio can be used to convey speech, or virtual objects canbe used to convey meanings that can not be expressed with spoken orwritten language.

Other important virtual world concepts include agents and regions. Anagent is a user account, upon which the user can build an avatar. Theagent is associated with an inventory of assets the user can own. Aregion is a three dimensional virtual area of land within a virtualworld. Assets, avatars, the environment and anything else visualconsists of unique identifiers (UUIDs, see http:widipedia.org/wiki/UUID)associated with geometric data (distributed to users as textualcoordinates, lists of polygons or lists of vectors, for example),textures (distributed to users as graphics files such as JPEG2000files), and effects data (rendered by the user's client according touser preferences and user device capabilities.

Many virtual worlds are represented using three dimensional graphics andlandscapes, and may be used by many thousands of participants, sometimesknown as residents, each having one or more avatars. Residents of avirtual world may traverse and inhabit the virtual world, and interactwith one another through the use of those avatars. Other terms forvirtual worlds include virtual universes, metaverses, virtual realities,massively multiplayer online games, virtual realms and 3D internet.

Often, virtual worlds resemble the real world in many ways. For example,virtual worlds can resemble the real world as in terms of physics,houses and other buildings, and landscapes. Examples of virtual worldscan include: Second Life, Entropia World, The Sims Online, There, RedLight Center and several massively multiplayer online games such asEverQuest, Ultima Online, Lineage or World of Warcraft.

In many virtual world situations there is a need or desire to addvirtual world functionality, virtual world objects, virtual worldinteractions, and users to an existing virtual world. However, fortechnical reasons the virtual world content or infrastructure oftencannot be easily augmented or expanded. Additionally, in some knownvirtual world situations a virtual world user population can requiresegmentation for purposes of security and functionality. Therefore,methods are required to extend functionality and capacity for existingvirtual worlds. Furthermore, methods are also needed to segregate userpopulations within virtual worlds.

One case where extension of functionality can be required is in militaryvirtual world embodiments that require information hiding. Theinformation hiding can be based on security level or levels ofclearance. Another example where extension of functionality can berequired is providing age appropriate content where adults and childrenparticipate in a single virtual world, but only adults may view adultdesignated content. Other examples can include providing managerialcontrol and objects in worlds in which world managers may see andinteract with objects not accessible to the general populationparticipating within the virtual world, and providing a referee view forsports and activities that require officiating. In contests such assporting events a referee may have a view of objects and objectmodifications in the virtual world that help officiate, but mayotherwise be a distraction to players.

It may be useful to provide modification, editing rights andfunctionality to a subset of users of a virtual world. Virtual worlddevelopment and providing secure and cost effective virtual worldcontent creation tools can be a complex task. Thus, an ability to permitvirtual world content creation, the addition of new functionality,manipulation in a live virtual world without the need to integratesecurity, and the tooling directly into the virtual world are useful.This can be cumbersome, expensive, and disruptive.

For example, new functionality and content can be created on an isolatedcopy of a virtual world, and then migrated to a production copy of thevirtual world. This can delay end user involvement and requiremaintenance of multiple copies of virtual worlds. It can also delay theprocess of moving functionality from development to production andrequire disruption of service in the production copy of the virtualworld.

Also, managing multiple virtual worlds efficiently and effectively,while separating in-world management functionality is useful. Forexample, in a virtual world embodiment called Second Life addingfunctionality to the infrastructure of a specific user population canrequire modification of the infrastructure itself. Infrastructuremodification can be extremely intrusive to virtual world operation,often requiring the entire world or regions within the world to benon-functional for periods of time.

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown the prior art virtual worldsystem 10. The prior art virtual world system 10 includes a base virtualworld 12 and a base virtual world view 14. The base virtual world 12 caninclude a virtual world server with disk arrays for storing the sourcevirtual world objects as well understood by those skilled in the art.Known base virtual worlds such as the base virtual world 12 cansometimes be referred to as canonical virtual worlds. Participants inthe prior art virtual world system 10 who are interacting with the basevirtual world 12 and viewing the base virtual world 12 by way of thebase virtual world view 14 can do so by connecting directly to the basevirtual world view 14. Within the prior art virtual world system 10content and functionality are implemented in a single base virtual world12. All interactions and objects can be preconceived by the developersof the virtual world system 10 and integrated into the single instanceof the base virtual world 12.

Two methods for extending capacity and functionality of a virtual worldsuch as the prior art virtual world system 10 are known to those skilledin the art. One method is segregating and extending the functionalitythrough a permissions-based mechanism. Another method is providingcommunity segregation through the creation of independent instances ofthe virtual world.

Permissions based mechanisms that control functionality and access toobjects and areas within a virtual world can require all functionality,access control lists and the user community to be managed by a singlevirtual world instance. Such a system may require continual updates, andcapacity and functionality enhancements to the single virtual worldinfrastructure. Additionally, a single virtual world instance may berequired to manage user and functionality accounting for the virtualworld. It may not always be desirable to consolidate information andfunctionality into a single system for a number of reasons includingmanageability, upgradeability, and understandability.

The other known method for extending capacity and functionality iscommunity segregation. Community segregation can require creation of aseparate and independent copy of the virtual world. This practice cancreate a completely separate and isolated copy of a virtual world. Suchan approach can require a complete copy of a virtual world wherein theisolated virtual world requires the same infrastructure as the original.It is common for this method to be used to enhance capacity. Eachindependent copy can manage and provide functionality for its populationbase without leveraging existing virtual worlds. Such a method canrequire inefficient duplication of resources, and a change to theoriginal virtual world must be copied to all derived virtual worlds.

SUMMARY

A method for providing virtual world functionality, to a user of a basevirtual world having base virtual world functionality includes providinga virtual world layer having virtual world layer functionality beyondthe base virtual world functionality, coupling the virtual world layerto the base virtual world, and coupling the virtual world layer to theuser. The method also includes providing user access to the base virtualworld functionality and to the virtual world layer functionality by thevirtual world layer. The user access is provided according to a usercommand and only by way of the virtual world layer. The base virtualworld has a base virtual world object and the virtual world layer has alayer virtual world object. Those skilled in the art will understandthat, for example, a base virtual world object can be referred to as abase world object for convenience, and a layer virtual world object canbe referred to as a layer world object for convenience. A state of thebase world object is managed by the base virtual world to provide a basemanaged object. A state of the layer world object is managed by thevirtual world layer to provide a layer managed object. A state of thebase managed object is managed by the virtual world layer to provide afurther managed object. User access to the layer managed object and tothe further managed object is provided by the virtual world layer. Useraccess to the base managed object is provided by the virtual world layerand the further managed object is independent of any instantiation ofthe base world object in the virtual world layer. The layer managedobject is independent of any instantiation of the layer world object inthe base virtual world.

A method for providing virtual world functionality to a user includescoupling a first virtual world layer to the base virtual world andcoupling second and third virtual world layers to the first virtualworld layer. Segregated users get user access to the base virtual worldby way of the second virtual world layer and by way of the third virtualworld layer. The base virtual world has a base world object and thesecond virtual world layer has a second layer world object. User accessto a base managed object is provided according to a user command. Useraccess is provided only by way of the virtual world layers. A furthermanaged object is independent of any instantiation of the base worldobject in the virtual world layers. The layer managed object isindependent of any instantiation of the layer world object in the basevirtual world.

A method for providing virtual world functionality to a user of a basevirtual world having base virtual world functionality and a list of basevirtual world users includes providing a virtual world layer,communicating to the base virtual world that the virtual world layerwill overlay the base virtual world, and adding the virtual world layerto the list of base virtual world users in order to register the virtualworld layer with the base virtual world. A base world functionality tobe augmented by the virtual world layer is communicated to the basevirtual world. The virtual world layer has a registration list ofvirtual world layer users and the base virtual world is added to thelist of virtual world layer users. The base virtual world functionalityis executed by way of the virtual world layer.

The virtual world layer has virtual world layer functionality beyond thebase virtual world functionality and a virtual world layer usercommunity. The virtual world layer is coupled to the virtual world layeruser community. The virtual world layer user community is provided withaccess to the base virtual world functionality and the virtual worldlayer functionality by the virtual world layer. The base virtual worldand the virtual world layer each have a respective user community andthe user communities are segregated. The base virtual world has baseworld objects and the virtual world layer notifies the base virtualworld which base world objects the virtual world layer will use toprovide used base world objects. The used base world objects are managedby the virtual world layer to provide world managed base objects. Forexample, a texture of the virtual world managed base objects is altered.

A method for providing virtual world functionality to a user of a basevirtual world having base virtual world functionality includes providinga virtual world layer having virtual world layer functionality beyondthe base virtual world functionality, encapsulating the virtual worldlayer to provide a virtual world module, transmitting the virtual worldmodule to virtual layer infrastructure to provide a transmitted virtualworld module, and executing the transmitted virtual world module toprovide user access to the base virtual world functionality and thevirtual world layer functionality. A provisioning specification isprovided within the virtual world module. The virtual world layer hasvirtual world layer infrastructure and the virtual world layerinfrastructure is provisioned in accordance with the provisioningspecification. Computing equipment is provisioned in accordance with theprovisioning specification. Accounting support software within thevirtual world module is provisioned in accordance with the provisioningspecification. Networking is performed in accordance with the virtualworld module. The virtual world module is unpacked to provide anunpacked virtual world module and the unpacked virtual world module isexecuted. The virtual world module is transmitted by a content creator.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a prior art virtual worldsystem.

FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of a single layered virtual worldsystem according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of a multiple layered virtual worldsystem according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIGS. 4A, B are partial schematic representations of a parallel multiplelayered virtual world system according to an embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 4C is an alternate embodiment of the parallel multiple layervirtual world of FIGS. 4A,B.

FIG. 5 is a schematic representation of a virtual world communicationprotocol according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic representation of a further virtual worldcommunication protocol according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic representation of a further virtual worldcommunication protocol according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 8A is a schematic representation of a composite virtual worldsystem according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 8B is a schematic representation of an alternate embodiment of thecomposite virtual world system of FIG. 8A.

FIG. 9 is a schematic representation of an example composite virtualworld system according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 10A is a schematic representation of a virtual world registrationconfiguration according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 10B is a process flow representation of a virtual worldregistration process according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 11 is a schematic representation of a virtual world layer packageand method according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIGS. 12A,B are schematic representations of an alternate embodiment ofthe virtual world layer package and method of FIG. 11.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to FIG. 2, there is shown the single layered virtual worldsystem 20. The single layered virtual world system 20 can include thebase virtual world 22 and the base virtual world view 24. In a mannersubstantially similar to the manner understood by those skilled in theart with respect to the prior art virtual world system 10, a usercommunity of the single layered virtual world system 20 can connectdirectly to the base virtual world 22 by way of the base virtual worldview 24. Accordingly, the user community can interact with objects whoseexistence and state the base virtual world 22 maintains by way of thebase virtual world view 24. However, according to a preferred embodimentof the invention, the single layered virtual world system 20 can alsoinclude a virtual world layer 26 and a layer virtual world view 28. Thelayer virtual world view 28 can couple directly to the virtual worldlayer 26, where a coupling between base virtual worlds, virtual worldlayers and layer virtual world views can be any type of communication orassociation known by those skilled in the art.

Those skilled in the art can use a virtual world layer order notationVW[0] to represent the base virtual world 22. The virtual world layerorder notation VW[1] can represent the virtual world layer 26.Furthermore, the virtual world layer order notation View[0] canrepresent the base virtual world view 24, and View[1] can represent thelayer virtual world view 28. The virtual world layer order notation usedherein can be a bracketed notation that is substantially similar toarray notations common in many programming languages. In this virtualworld layer order notation each bracketed numerical value following avirtual world name or virtual world view name can represent a tier.

The virtual world layer 26 can be a middleware including a layeredvirtual world server, or multiple servers with disk arrays for storingthe source virtual world objects of the layer 26. The layer virtualworld server can interact with the base virtual world 22 on behalf ofthe community of layered virtual world users. Any interaction of thevirtual world layer 26 that affects the base virtual world 22 can passthrough the virtual world layer 26 to the base virtual world 22.Participants in the single layered virtual world system 20 who are notusing the layer virtual world view 28 can interact with the base virtualworld 22 by connecting directly to it, for example directly using thebase virtual world view 24. The single layered virtual world system 20is inherently secure since the layer objects within the virtual worldlayer 26 do not exist in the base virtual world 22. The only wayparticipants of the virtual world layer 26 can interact with the layerobjects is by accessing the layered virtual world server within thevirtual world layer 26.

The user community viewing the layer virtual world view 28 receives theenhanced functionality provided by the virtual world layer 26 includingaccess to additional objects stored by its server by issuing commands tothe virtual world layer 26. Furthermore, access to the additionalobjects can be exclusive to the user community viewing the layer virtualworld view 28. The server within the virtual world layer 26 communicateswith the base virtual world 22 to retrieve states, objects, textures,scripts, etc. However, the virtual world layer 26 can manage the stateand persistence of its own objects and their relation and interactionwith the objects of the base virtual world 22.

Furthermore, the virtual world layer 26 can manage its own separate listof users. Clients of the virtual world layer 26, such as the layervirtual world view 28, may render and interact with all of the objectsfound in the base virtual world 22, but they may also interact with allof the objects stored in the virtual world layer 26. The single layervirtual world view 24 thus enables user access to objects that do notexist in the base virtual world 22. For example, in the embodiment shownin FIG. 2, the virtual world layer 26 includes a football object whichis not present in the objects of the base virtual world 22. The footballobject is shown added to the objects from the base virtual world 22 whenviewed from the layer virtual world view 28.

In one preferred embodiment the layer virtual world view 28 may alsoprovide additional interaction with objects managed in the base virtualworld 22. For example, virtual world designers may not want to permitthe general population of the base virtual world 22 to change or deleteobjects in the base virtual world 22. Such actions may be permitted forusers of the layer virtual world view 28, and only the user communityinteracting with the world through single layer virtual world view 28may have the ability to change and delete functionality.

Accordingly, the use of a virtual world layer package including thesingle layered virtual world system 20 can extend the functionality andcapacity of the existing base virtual world 22, while minimizing theimpact and the demand on the base virtual world 22. The layer packagescan be used to customize a base virtual world infrastructure withoutrequiring the creator of the customized world to build or maintain acomputational infrastructure to support the virtual world. The packagescan contain objects, textures, scripts, etc. that describe a virtualworld. The packages may describe a complete virtual world or mayoverride only specific items of the base virtual world where thedesigners deploy them.

The single layered virtual world system 20 or single layered virtualworld method 20 can enable an extension of the base virtual world 22through the implementation of one or more virtual world infrastructures.The virtual world infrastructures can include the layered virtual worldserver that can act as a proxy between the user and the base virtualworld 22 being extended. The layered virtual worlds or proxy virtualworlds can add functionality to the base virtual world 22 byimplementing functionality present only on their infrastructure, andmanaging objects and users that are not part of, or exposed to, the basevirtual world 22 or its users. The management of their own virtual worldobjects by the virtual world layers is in addition to any managing ofthe base world objects being passed through the layers from the basevirtual world 22 to the user community of the virtual world layers.

In a typical virtual world environment such as the prior art virtualworld 10 all participants connect to an instance of the virtual world.All participants interact with the same objects. However, within thesingle layered virtual world system 20 different user communities canhave different interactions with the base virtual world 22 mediated bytheir different virtual world layers 26. Thus, the additional virtualworld servers may layer objects and functionality upon the objects andfunctionality provided by the base virtual world 22. The layered,isolated and differentiated virtual worlds may thus supportcomplementary communities and provide a solution to a number of problemsafflicting the development and operation of virtual worlds. Furthermore,the single layered virtual world system 20 permits segregation of usercommunities whereby the base virtual world 22 does not require knowledgeof the users on the single layered virtual world system 20.

An important advantage of the single layered virtual world system 20 isthat it can leverage the functionalities of the base virtual world 22while requiring only enough infrastructures to support its ownfunctionality and its own user community. For example, a layer such asthe single layered virtual world system 20 can be designed to tint allof the buildings or selected buildings in a base virtual world apredetermined color. It can be designed to operate selectively onobjects provided by the base virtual world according to any parametersor data. For example, a layer can be designed to operate on objectsaccording to global positioning system data that may be associated withthe base virtual world objects. In another alternate embodiment objectscan be provided with receptor sites for associating images or video orother objects with the receptor sites. For example, the layer can causeimages or video to be displayed upon a rendering of an object at thereceptor sites of the object.

Participants are users of a virtual world who can interact withaugmentations to the base virtual world by connecting exclusively to alayered virtual world server which manage the additional objects notvisible or accessible by users of the base virtual world 22. In order todo this its infrastructure communicates with the base virtual world 22and one or more virtual world clients. Furthermore, single layeredvirtual world system 20 enables its users to interact with the users ofthe base virtual world 22 while providing complete segregation betweenthe user communities.

Referring now to FIG. 3, there is shown the multiple layered virtualworld system 30. The multiple layered virtual world system 30 includesthe base virtual world 32 and the base virtual world view 34. A usercommunity of the base virtual world 32 can connect directly to the basevirtual world 32. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, themultiple layered virtual world system 30 can also include any number ofvirtual world layers 36 a-n. Each virtual world layer 36 a-n can includeits own virtual world server for storing its own source virtual objects,as well as its own virtual world view 38 a-n connected to it. Forexample, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the virtual world layer 36 nincludes a soccer ball object which is not present in objects in thebase virtual world 32. The football object is shown added to the objectsfrom the base virtual world 32 when viewed from the layer virtual worldview 38 n. This is in addition to the football object added to theobjects in the base virtual world 32 when viewed from the layer virtualworld view 38 a. Thus, the multiple layered virtual world system 30 cansupport any number n of layers to support any layered security or designcriteria. The notation VW[1]-VW[n] can represent the virtual worldlayers 36 a-n, and the notation View[1]-View[n] can represent thevirtual world views 38 a-n.

The multiple layered virtual world system 30 embodiment permits multiplecommunities to access a single base virtual world 32 by way of its ownvirtual world view 38 a-n. It is modular and may be extended to as manylayers as required. The base virtual world 32 can maintain the lowestcommon functionality and object states within the multiple layeredvirtual world system 30, while the virtual world layers 36 a-n canprovide n additional separate sets of functionality and object states.Each virtual world layer of the virtual world layers 36 a-n inherits thefunctionality of the base virtual world 32 and the functionality of thevirtual world layers between the base virtual world 32 and itself.Additionally, each virtual world layer of the virtual world layers 36a-n adds its own additional functionality to the inheritedfunctionalities. Accordingly, each of the virtual world layers 36 a-nprovides its inherited functionality and its own functionality, to itsown distinct user community by way of its own virtual world view.

Referring now to FIGS. 4A,B,C, there are shown schematic representationsof the parallel multiple layered virtual world system 40. The parallelmultiple layered virtual world system 40 includes the base virtual world42 and the base virtual world view 44. A virtual world layer 46 a iscoupled directly to the base virtual world 42. The virtual world layer46 a is in turn coupled to additional virtual world layers extending upto the virtual world layer 46 n, as previously described with respect tothe multiple layered virtual world system 30, where it will beunderstood that the suffix n in the reference numeral 46 a-n or in thereference numeral 46 a-n can be any appropriate integer value.Furthermore, if the suffix a, for example in the reference numeral 46a-n or the reference numeral 46 a-n, has a value 1, then it will beunderstood that the reference numerals 36 a-n and 46 a-n indicaterespective elements ranging from a first element 36 a or 46 a through toan nth element, for a total of n elements in each case. Each virtualworld layer 46 a-n can be coupled to its own virtual world view 48 a-n,as also previously described with respect to the multiple layeredvirtual world system 30.

However, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, theparallel multiple layered virtual world system 40 can also be providedwith a further series of virtual world layers. The further series ofvirtual world layers can be coupled to the virtual world layer 46 a andcan extend to the virtual world layer 46 m. Thus, the reference numeral46 a-m can be understood to indicate a total of m elements, ranging froma first virtual element 46 a to an m^(th) element 46 m, substantially ina manner as previously described with respect to the reference numeral46 a-n. Furthermore, the string of the virtual world layers 46 a-n andthe string of the virtual world layers 46 a-m will be understood toinclude a common virtual world layer 46 a, which is coupled to the basevirtual world 42. Each of the virtual world layers 46 a-m in theparallel multiple layered virtual world system 40 can inherit thefunctionality of the base virtual world and the virtual world layers itis layered upon and provide the inherited functionalities along with itsown functionality to a user. Additionally, each virtual world layer 46a-m can be provided with its own virtual world view 48 a-m for providingthe combined functionalities to its user community. Therefore, a usercommunity in the parallel multiple layered virtual world system 40 canview the base virtual world 42 by way of at least two virtual worldlayers.

Furthermore, any number of additional series of layered virtual worldsbeyond layered virtual worlds shown and described can be added inparallel to the parallel multiple layered virtual world system 40 insubstantially the same manner. The users coupled to a layer of theparallel multiple layered virtual world system 40 can obtain user accessto the augmented functionality or the base virtual world 42 by issuingpredetermined commands understood by those skilled in the art.Accordingly, FIG. 4B will be understood to be a more generalizedrepresentation of the parallel multiple layered virtual world system 40as shown in FIG. 4A, wherein any configuration of parallel sequences ofvirtual world layers can be coupled to a base virtual world 42substantially in the manner of spokes radiating from a hub.

Parallel layered virtual world systems such as the parallel multiplelayered virtual world system 40 are believed to be advantageous forsupporting user communities with complex management structures. Forexample, the parallel multiple layered virtual world system 40 can beuseful in a simulation containing separate intelligence personnelsupporting a training mission. Soldiers in the training scenario may,for example, connect to the base virtual world 42. The immediatesuperiors of the soldiers could be provided with additional resourcesand functionality by attaching them to the various virtual world layer46 a-n. Additionally, intelligence teams may attach to a layered virtualworld view VW[2][1] that may contain information and functionality abovethe security clearance of the soldiers, and their immediate superiors.Trainers may connect to a parallel layered view of the parallel multiplelayered virtual world system 40, separate and distinct from that of theintelligence team. The virtual world layer VW[2][1] can providefunctionality specific to trainers and command personnel that is notappropriate for the individual soldier or intelligence team members. Inthis scenario it may not be appropriate to layer intelligencefunctionality on top of command functionality, or vise versa.

An important benefit of the parallel multiple layered virtual worldsystem 40 is thus the ability to provide independent resources for eachindependently participating team. This allows resources in a virtualworld to be budgeted and allocated in a manner mirroring the resourcesallocated in a complex management structure. It can also allow for asmany parallel layers as necessary in any series or parallel relationshipin order to support any number of independent communities requiring welldefined complete or partial isolation and separation from each other.

Referring now to FIG. 5, there is shown the compatible virtual worldcommunication protocol 50. The compatible virtual world communicationprotocol 50 can be used with virtual world systems such as the virtualworld systems 20, 30, 40 for enabling the virtual world layers 56 a,btherein to communicate with a base virtual world, with each other, orwith their clients 58 a,b. According to the compatible virtual worldcommunication protocol 50, one or both of the virtual world layers 56a,b can use the same communication protocol when communicating with itsbase virtual world that is uses when communicating with their clients 58a,b. Furthermore, according to a preferred embodiment of the compatiblevirtual world communication protocol 50, the virtual world layers 56 a,bcan also use the same communication protocol when communicating with anyother base virtual worlds they may be layered upon. This can enable theclients of the virtual world layers 56 a,b to alternately connect withthe base virtual world, the virtual world layers 56 a,b, or the virtualworld layer 56 b, and easily and directly communicate using the sameprotocol.

The virtual world layers 56 a,b that use the compatible virtual worldcommunication protocol 50 can be any of the virtual world layers of thevirtual world systems 20, 30, 40, or any other virtual world systems.The clients 58 a,b of the virtual world layers 56 a,b using thecompatible virtual world communication protocol 50 can be any of theuser communities coupled to any of the various virtual world views ofthe virtual world systems 20, 30, 40, or any other virtual worldsystems.

Referring now to FIG. 6, there is shown the incompatible virtual worldcommunication protocol 60. In the incompatible virtual worldcommunication protocol 60, the clients 68 a,b of the virtual worldlayers 66 a,b can use a protocol to communicate with its virtual worldlayer 66 a or 66 b that is different from the protocol it uses tocommunicate with its base virtual world. This can occur, for example,where virtual world layers 66 a,b add a substantially differentfunctionality that requires a different method of communication betweenitself and its client 68 a,b or 68 a,b. According to a preferredembodiment, the virtual world layers 66 a,b can use partially differentor completely different communication protocols when performing theforegoing communications, especially when they are using the augmentedfunctionality. Furthermore, according to the incompatible virtual worldcommunication protocol 60, the virtual world layers 66 a,b can use thesame or different communication protocol when communicating with virtualworld layers they are layered upon.

The virtual world layers 66 a,b that use the incompatible virtual worldcommunication protocol 60 can be any of the virtual world layers of thevirtual world systems 20, 30, 40, or any other virtual world systems.The clients 68 a,b of the virtual world layers 66 a,b using theincompatible virtual world communication protocol 60 can be any of theuser communities coupled to any of the various virtual world views ofthe virtual world systems 20, 30, 40, or any other virtual worldsystems.

Referring now to FIG. 7, there is shown the concurrent virtual worldcommunication protocol 70. In the concurrent virtual world communicationprotocol 70 a single client 78 can communicate with both of the virtualworld layers 76 a,b. Furthermore, in a preferred embodiment, the client78 can communicate with a single common base virtual world by way ofeither or both virtual world layers 76 a,b. However, it is not necessaryfor either of the virtual world layers 76 a,b to pass all of thefunctionality of the common base virtual world through to the client 78.Each of the virtual world layers 76 a,b can pass a portion of thefunctionality of the base virtual world to the client 78, although attimes a single world layer 76 a or 76 b can be permitted to pass theentire base virtual world through.

Additionally, each of the virtual world layers 76 a,b may augment andenhance the capability of only the portion of the base virtual world itis passing through to the client 78. Furthermore, it is possible forsome portion or portions of the functionality of the base virtual worldto be passed through to the client 78 by way of one or both of thevirtual world layers 76 a,b without any augmentation. Additionally, aportion or portions of the base virtual world may be selectivelyaugmented and passed by either of the virtual world layers 76 a,b,wherein the portion being selectively passed through can be determinedand triggered by any means known to those skilled in the art. Thus, eachof the virtual world layers 76 a,b, or other virtual world layers inaddition to the virtual world layers 76 a,b, can provide an independentparallel augmentation of the functionality of the base virtual world tothe client 78.

Referring now to FIGS. 8A,B, there are shown schematic representationsof the composite virtual world system 80. The composite virtual worldsystem 80 can include any number of base virtual worlds 82 a-n. Eachbase virtual world 82 a-n can have its own corresponding virtual worldview 84 a-n. Additionally, the composite virtual world system 80 caninclude a virtual world layer 86. The virtual world layer 86 within thecomposite virtual world system 80 can have its own virtual world view88. Since the virtual world layer 86 can be layered over any number ofthe base virtual worlds 82 a-n, a user of the composite virtual worldsystem 80 can interact with any of the base virtual worlds 82 a-n by wayof the virtual world layer 86 and its virtual world view 88.Furthermore, a user of the composite virtual world system 80 caninteract with the base virtual worlds 82 a-n in substantially the samemanner previously described with respect to the base virtual worlds andvirtual world views of the virtual world systems or methods 20, 30, 40,or any other virtual world systems or methods. Accordingly, thoseskilled in the art can also refer to the virtual world layer 86 as thecomposite virtual world 86.

Thus, one skilled in the art can use the composite virtual world 86 tomanage any number of base virtual worlds such as the base virtual worlds82 a-n. The composite virtual world 86 is therefore useful for extendingthe functionality and capacity of the base virtual worlds 82 a-n whileminimizing the impact and demand on the base virtual worlds 82 a-n beingextended, as also previously described. For example, the compositevirtual world 86 can enable virtual world extension through theimplementation of one or more virtual world infrastructures that can actas proxies between a user of the composite virtual world 86 and the basevirtual worlds 82 a-n. The proxy virtual worlds created in this mannercan select functionality from any of the base virtual worlds 82 a-n, andcreate new virtual worlds that are composites of the selected basevirtual worlds 82 a-n and the virtual world layer 86.

In a typical virtual world environment many participants can connect toa single instance of a virtual world such as the composite virtual world86. The composite virtual world system 80 thus permits a single user toaccess multiple base virtual worlds through a single instance of thecomposite virtual world 86. Additionally, composite virtual world system80 can create new virtual worlds out of the objects, scripts, textures,etc. that can exist in the other virtual worlds. Creation of a virtualworld using a composite proxy such as the composite virtual world 86permits new virtual world experiences to be created quickly and withoutthe expense of creating a large back-end virtual world processinginfrastructure. Furthermore, FIG. 8B will be understood to be a moregeneralized representation of the composite virtual world system 80 asshown in FIG. 8A, wherein any number of base virtual worlds 82 a-n canbe coupled to the base virtual world 42. Furthermore, any base virtualworld 82 a-n of the composite virtual world system 80 can haveadditional virtual world layers coupled to it.

The composite virtual world system 80 can be advantageously applied toknown virtual worlds because it enables the rapid creation of uniquevirtual world experiences by permitting composition of new virtualworlds from pieces of existing base virtual worlds. Furthermore, thecomposite virtual world system 80 permits a user to move rapidly betweenthe base virtual worlds 82 a-n by way of the composite virtual world 86.Additionally, the composite virtual world system 80 provides a singlepoint of access for monitoring and managing a potentially large domainof virtual world servers. It allows administrative functionality toreside in a secure environment segregated from the domain of the virtualworld servers under management.

Referring now to FIG. 9, there is shown the support composite virtualworld system 90. The support composite virtual world system 90 can beadvantageously applied to the field of virtual world management, forexample, within the entertainment industry. In the entertainment marketit is common to create several parallel copies of a virtual world, forexample game base virtual worlds 92 a-n, to support a large andgeographically distributed player community. The number of parallelcopies can range into the hundreds or higher. Managers of such base gamevirtual worlds 92 a-n in the entertainment industry often give theparallel virtual world copies unique names, so that users can connect tothe specific base game virtual world 92 a-n they want. In many suchvirtual world systems, many of the base game virtual worlds 92 a-n canshare the same or similar static content.

It is known to provide a mechanism for requesting assistance within thevirtual world contexts. Due to the independent nature of the segregationmethods, many different support requests can arise and existindependently, including within the base game virtual worlds 92 a-n. Anentertainment company can create a separate support team for eachvirtual world. However, such an approach can be wasteful and expensive.Customer support in such an environment is difficult because it can belaborious for support personnel to log into multiple virtual worldssimultaneously. Support must be provided in-world for issues that arisewithin each distinct copy of the virtual world. Support personnel mayneed the implementation of special support functionality so they canassist customers, and support personnel may need equal access to allparallel copies of the virtual world.

Furthermore, virtual world functionality implemented for supportpersonnel can be a target for mischievous security exploits. Therefore,support functionality can be a security risk if implemented in the basevirtual worlds. Furthermore, independent parallel copies of a virtualworld require support personnel to log off one copy of the virtual worldand log on to another. This is a time consuming and therefore expensivetask that reduces the ability of the support personnel to assistcustomers.

The support composite virtual world system 90 can solve many of theseand other problems by creating a composite virtual world 96 for thesupport personnel to permit easy working access to all of the game basevirtual worlds 92 a-n by way of the composite virtual world 96. Inanother embodiment of the invention plural composite virtual worlds 96can be provided for providing working access to the game virtual worlds92 a-n for the support personnel by way of plural paths. Furthermore,the support composite virtual world 96 created in this manner can exposethe support functionally to only selected authorized personnel whileconnecting to all of the game base virtual worlds 92 a-n.

Therefore, an entertainment company can use standard segregation methodsto support a large user population, the segregation method can requirethe entertainment company to create several identical copies of thevirtual world, and the user population can be divided amongst thecopies. In order to support the customer base efficiently theentertainment company can create a single or multiple layer compositevirtual world 96 to provide specific segregated support functionality.The composite virtual world 96 can be accessible only to supportpersonnel. The virtual world support layer 96 can maintain concurrentpersistent communications with all of the virtual world instances. Whena customer submits a support request, the layered virtual world 96 cancreate a support request object that can be activated by the supportpersonnel. The support request object can be created within the virtualworld layer 96, and can consist of the support request data provided bythe customer, and information to identify which specific virtual worldinstance 92 a-n originated the request.

The support composite virtual world system 90 can represent the supportrequest to the support personnel as a virtual world object or as avirtual world menu item. The support personnel can activate the requestobject, and the layer forming the composite virtual world 96 can provideaccess to the customer objects. Because each copy of the base virtualworld 92 a-n can be almost identical, only unique data specific to therequesting customer may need to be accessed by the support layer 96. Allactions taken by the support personnel on behalf of the customer can bereflected back to the customer specific instance of the base virtualworld 92 a-n through known communications methods. Thus, in virtualworld layer order notation, a support request can be made by a customerof VW[0][1]. The support personnel can activate the request object. Thesupport personnel can be allowed to see to the customers virtual worldobjects. Actions taken in the virtual world are pushed down to thespecific VWS[0][1 ].

The description of the composite virtual world systems 80, 90 can beapplied to the management of multiple virtual worlds such as the basevirtual worlds 82 a-n, 92 a-n that can be substantially similar to eachother. However, layered composite worlds such as the composite virtualworld systems 80, 90 can also be used to compose new virtual worlds fromdisparate previously existing base virtual worlds. Such a use can selectscripts, textures, objects, avatars, etc. from different base virtualworlds and create a new layered composite virtual world from theselected base world objects. These embodiments may normalize the physicsengines for all base virtual worlds, such that objects from one baseworld could interact with users in the same manner as objects fromanother base world. Such a composite virtual world need not proxyinteractions back to the base virtual worlds. Rather, in an alternateembodiment it could process interactions internally. The composite worldembodiments created in this manner enable the rapid creation of newvirtual worlds using objects, scripts, textures, etc. from other basevirtual worlds.

Referring now to FIGS. 10A,B, there are shown the virtual worldregistration configuration 1000 and the virtual world registrationprocess 1050. The virtual world registration configuration 1000 caninclude the base virtual world 1002, a registration virtual world layer1006, and a base virtual world view 1004. In the preferred embodiment ofthe invention, the registration virtual world layer 1006 and the basevirtual world view 1004 can be coupled directly to the base virtualworld 1002.

The registration virtual world layer 1006 can be used to make differentvirtual world software applications aware of each other and to enablethem to add each other to their registration lists. In one preferredembodiment the registration list of a virtual world layer can includeall of the users in its user community as well as any other virtualworld layers it is coupled to, for example any base virtual worlds orany other virtual world layers it is coupled to. The registration listof a base virtual world can include all of the users in its usercommunity as well as any virtual world layers it is coupled to. Theregistration process of the invention can be used when a new virtualworld layer, such as a virtual world layer adding functionality orcapability to a base virtual world, is about to be applied to the basevirtual world. Under these circumstances a virtual world layer to beadded can notify the base virtual world of it existence and that it isabout to be applied. Additionally, it can notify the base virtual worldwhat data, objects, etc. it can use or make available. The data,objects, etc. within the base that will be used by the virtual worldlayer can be referred to as the used data, used objects, etc.Furthermore, the virtual world layer must enable all of the layeringoperations previously described.

The virtual world registration configuration 1000 thus permits extendingthe functionality and capacity of existing virtual worlds such as thebase virtual world 1002 while minimizing the impact and demand on thevirtual world being extended. It enables the extension of the basevirtual world 1002 through the implementation of one or more virtualworld infrastructures that can register with the base virtual world 1002and describe the objects and functions it can provide to the basevirtual world server. The registered extensions can add functionality tothe base virtual world 1002 through implementing the new functionalityand managing objects and users that are not part of, or exposed to, thebase virtual world 1002, or the users of the base virtual world 1002.

In many virtual world environments when the participants connect to aninstance of a base virtual world such as the base virtual world 1002they can all interact with the same objects, the objects of the basevirtual world 1002. The virtual world registration configuration 1000permits differing user communities to register and have differentinteractions in the one base virtual world 1002 by way of theregistration virtual world layer 1006. Additional virtual world serversmay also register with the base virtual world 1002 and providefunctionality on top of that provided by the base virtual world 1002 ina similar manner. The registered world layers can be isolated anddifferentiated virtual worlds. They may support complementarycommunities and provide a solution to a number of problems afflictingthe development and operation of virtual worlds. Furthermore, a systemsuch as the virtual world registration configuration 1000 can permitsegregation of the different user communities. Accordingly, the basevirtual world 1002 does not require knowledge of the users of the othervirtual worlds such as the virtual world 1006.

In the virtual world registration configuration 1000 the infrastructureof the virtual world layer 1006 can thus leverage the infrastructure ofthe base virtual world 1002, and require only enough capacity to supportits own additional layer functionality and user community. Furthermore,the virtual world registration configuration 1000 can enable users ofthe virtual world layer 1006 to interact with users of the base virtualworld 1002 while providing complete segregation between usercommunities.

The external virtual world registration provided in this manner by thevirtual world registration configuration 1000 enables augmentedfunctionality of an existing base virtual world such as the base virtualworld 1002 without modification to the base virtual world 1002 itself.The registered layered virtual world can communicate with the basevirtual world 1002 rather than directly with a client. This enablesextension of the functionality of the base virtual world 1002 withoutmodification to the infrastructure of the base virtual world 1002. Thevirtual world layer 1006 does not necessarily add any additional virtualspace to the base virtual world 1002. However, it does add functionalityand objects to those provided within the space of the base virtual world1002.

The virtual world registration configuration 1000 can thus permit thevirtual world layer 1006 to register itself with the base virtual world1002. The registration process can inform the base virtual world 1002 ofthe objects, and functions the virtual world layer 1006 can provide andperform. When a client performs an action that requests functionalitynot provided by the base virtual world 1002, the base virtual world 1002can forward the request to the virtual world layer 1006. The virtualworld layer 1006 can process the request, and return the results to thebase virtual world 1002. The base virtual world 1002 can then forwardthe results to the requesting client. The registration process performedby the virtual world registration configuration 1000 may be embodimentdependant with multiple distinct methods for selecting and expandingfunctionality from the base virtual world 1002 to any number ofregistered layers.

A virtual world can be a complex system made up of computationalhardware, data storage devices, data communications devices, executablesoftware systems, and data. These systems may be decomposed into aclient half and a server half. The client half can render a virtualworld and enable users to interact with any number of objects. Theserver half can simulate interactions, maintain virtual world states,coordinate participants, persist data, communicate the state of thevirtual world to clients, and provide any other virtual worldfunctionality. The server infrastructure for layered virtual worldsoperating according to the various embodiments can execute on serversystems or other types of computer systems connected to a computernetwork, including computer networks coupled to the internet. The serverinfrastructure for operation of the virtual worlds can include thecomputers, storage and network equipment that provide the physicalinfrastructure to support the virtual worlds.

A preferred embodiment can include a system or method for encapsulating,transmitting, and installing any of the software components of a virtualworld layer, also known as content. The content can be separate from theinstalling, maintaining and running of the virtual world server. Abusiness model used by a company that creates virtual world content canbe different from the business model used by a company that operatesvirtual world servers. It is therefore advantageous to enable suchcompanies to operate independently and communicate through a standard. Alayered virtual world package or bundle can provide this capability.

Thus, a registration virtual world 1006 can notify a base virtual world1002 of its existence as shown in block 1052 of the virtual worldregistration process 1050. The registration virtual world 1006 can alsonotify the base virtual world 1002 of its intention to overlay the basevirtual world 1002 as shown in block 1054. It can notify the base 1002which objects, data, etc. it can use when the overlay is accomplished asshown in block 1056. The functionality or functionalities of the basevirtual worlds 1002 to be augmented by the layer 1006 can also becommunicated to the base virtual world 1002 as shown in block 1058. Thebase virtual world 1002 can add the virtual world layer 1006 to its listof users as shown in block 1060. In a preferred embodiment the basevirtual world 1002 and the virtual world layer 1006 can maintainsegregated user lists as shown in block 1062.

Referring now to FIG. 11, there is shown an embodiment of the virtualworld layer package and method 1100. The components of the virtual worldlayer package 1100 can be assembled as shown in block 1110 to create thepackage as shown in block 1112. The package can be encapsulated as shownin block 1114 and, optionally, can be compressed as shown in block 1116.The package can be uploaded as shown in block 1118 and transmitted toits operational environment where it can be unpacked as shown in block1120. The provisioning specification can be read and parsed as shown inblock 1122 and the infrastructure of the operational environment can beprovisioned accordingly as shown in block 1124. The package can beinstalled and executed as shown in block 1126.

Referring now to FIG. 12A, there is shown an alternate embodimentvirtual world layer package 1200. The virtual world layer package 1200can be a collection of the executable software required for installingand operating a layered virtual world according to the presentinvention. It can include any type of middleware 1202, virtual worlddata 1204, automation software 1206, and infrastructure specificationthat can be parts of, or useful for the operation of, a virtual worldsuch as those including the virtual world layers 26, 36, 46 a-n, 46 a-m,56 a,b, 66 a,b, 76 a,b, 86, 96, 1006. For example, the virtual worldlayer package 1200 can also include any interpreters 1208 that may berequired for interpreting any script 1210 that may be within it or atany other locations. It can also include any other objects 1212 orsoftware useful or required for operation of a virtual world, such asany special operating systems 1214, music 1216, animation, soundeffects, motion effect or visual effects 1218, provisioningspecification 1220, and any other systems 1222 or objects.

The virtual world layer package 1200 can be encapsulated such that itcan be copied and delivered from a virtual world content creator to avirtual world operator. A virtual world layer package 1200 can be asingle object that is itself an aggregation of all of the objectsrelevant to a layered virtual world or a portion of the objects relevantto the layered virtual world. The virtual world layer package 1200 mayutilize compression technologies to reduce its size, but this is not arequirement. In addition to the layered virtual world objects, thevirtual world layer package 1200 may also contain an infrastructureprovisioning specification 1220, as well as installation automations.

The virtual world layer package 1200 is not required to define allobjects within a virtual world. Some virtual world layer packages 1200may define only the objects they are overriding within another virtualworld on which it the package is to be deployed. The layer package maydefine the objects to override using references to the base worldobjects UUID or any other types of references known to those skilled inthe art. It should be noted that virtual world layer packages 1200 maybe chained, such that one virtual world layer package 1200 referencesanother virtual world layer package 1200 and the base virtual worldmodifications are inherited through package references.

The provisioning specification of a virtual world layer package caninclude computing resources, operating system specifications, externalmiddleware, external middleware configuration and networkingconfiguration. Additionally, the provisioning specification may describemethods for user accounting support infrastructure. User and customergroups, rights and authorities are likewise specified in theprovisioning package. In some embodiments, the specification may alsodescribe external account authentication or authorization directories,such as LDAP, to use for authentication and authorization. Furthermore,in some embodiments a provisioning specification may specify a uniqueidentifier for the layered virtual world and communication protocolsincluding communication protocols that are different from the ones usedby the base virtual world.

Referring now to FIG. 12B, there is shown an alternate embodiment of avirtual world encapsulation process 1250 for packaging and using avirtual world layer package. Once a layered virtual world package suchas the virtual world layer package 1100 is created or partially createdand encapsulated as shown in block 1252, it can be compressed as shownin block 1254. It can be transmitted to the infrastructure of anoperator of a layered virtual world system as shown in block 1256. Thevirtual world layer package 1100 can be used for transmitting virtualworld objects when the objects are packaged and shipped to the user onmedia, initially downloaded, downloaded as needed or transmitted anyother way.

A virtual world layer package 1100 can be encapsulated using anyencapsulation technology known to those skilled in the art and agreedupon by, for example, a content creation company and a virtual worldoperating company. An operating company can receive and encapsulate thevirtual world layer package 1100 and provide access to storage for thecontent to be uploaded. The virtual world layer package 1100 may bedelivered from the content creator to the operator via any common andmutually agreed upon network communications protocols. The possiblecommunications protocols for transmitting a virtual world layer package1100 can include protocols such as the well known Internet Protocols andFile Transfer Protocol, physical communications such as DVD transfer viacourier, or any other protocol.

A transmitted virtual world layer package 1100 received by an operatorinfrastructure it can be received and unpacked as shown in block 1258.Any method known to those skilled in the art can be used to extract theindividual components from the transmitted layered virtual world package1100. Provisioning specification can then be performed as shown in 1260.In this step the operator installation or other entity receiving apackage can read the infrastructure provisioning specification andprovision the appropriate computing, storage, operating system,middleware and network. The installation of the virtual world layerpackage 1100 on servers or other kinds of operational infrastructure canbe performed as shown in block 1262.

When the infrastructure is provisioned according to specification of thevirtual world layer package 1100, an installation automation can executein any manner known to those skilled in the art as shown in block 1264.The installation automation can distribute the layered virtual worldobjects and begin execution of middleware and software componentsrequired to operate the virtual world of the virtual world layer package1100. The installation automation can also create any user or customeraccount information that may be required. When the installationautomation has completed its tasks, users can access the layered virtualworld using the identifiers and protocols specified in the provisioningspecification.

While the invention has been described in detail and with reference tospecific examples thereof, it will be apparent to one skilled in the artthat various changes and modifications can be made therein withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope thereof.

1. A method for providing virtual world functionality to a user of abase virtual world having base virtual world functionality, comprising:providing a virtual world layer having virtual world layer functionalitybeyond said base virtual world functionality; encapsulating said virtualworld layer to provide a virtual world module; transmitting said virtualworld module to virtual world layer infrastructure to provide atransmitted virtual world module; and executing said transmitted virtualworld module to provide user access to said base virtual worldfunctionality and said virtual world layer functionality.
 2. The methodfor providing virtual world functionality to a user of claim 1, furthercomprising providing a provisioning specification within said virtualworld module.
 3. The method for providing virtual world functionality toa user of claim 2, further comprising provisioning said virtual worldlayer infrastructure in accordance with said provisioning specification.4. The method for providing virtual world functionality to a user ofclaim 2, further comprising provisioning computing equipment inaccordance with said provisioning specification.
 5. The method forproviding virtual world functionality to a user of claim 2, furthercomprising provisioning accounting support software within said virtualworld module.
 6. The method for providing virtual world functionality toa user of claim 1, further comprising networking said virtual worldinfrastructure in accordance with said virtual world module.
 7. Themethod for providing virtual world functionality to a user of claim 1,further comprising unpacking said virtual world module to provide anunpacked virtual world module and executing said unpacked virtual worldmodule.
 8. The method for providing virtual world functionality to auser of claim 1, further comprising transmitting said virtual worldmodule by a content creator.
 9. The method for providing virtual worldfunctionality to a user of claim 1, further comprising transmitting saidvirtual world module by the internet.
 10. The method for providingvirtual world functionality to a user of claim 1, further comprisingencapsulating executable software within said virtual world module. 11.The method for providing virtual world functionality to a user of claim10, further comprising encapsulating virtual world middleware withinsaid virtual world module.
 12. The method for providing virtual worldfunctionality to a user of claim 10, further comprising encapsulating aninterpreter within said virtual world module.
 13. The method forproviding virtual world functionality to a user of claim 10, furthercomprising encapsulating visual effects software within said virtualworld module.
 14. The method for providing virtual world functionalityto a user of claim 10, further comprising encapsulating an operatingsystem within said virtual world module
 15. The method for providingvirtual world functionality to a user of claim 1, further comprising:compressing said virtual world module to provide a compressed virtualworld module; and transmitting said compressed virtual world module. 16.The method for providing virtual world functionality to a user of claim1, wherein said base virtual world has base virtual world objects andsaid virtual world layer overrides selected ones of said base virtualworld objects and does not override remaining base virtual world objectscomprising encapsulating said selected ones of said base virtual worldobjects in said virtual world module and omitting said remaining basevirtual world objects from said virtual world module.
 17. The method forproviding virtual world functionality to a user of claim 1, wherein saidbase virtual world operates on base virtual world infrastructure, saidvirtual world layer operates on virtual world layer infrastructure, andsaid base virtual world infrastructure is separate from said virtualworld layer infrastructure.
 18. The method for providing virtual worldfunctionality to a user of claim 1, including a further user coupled tosaid virtual world layer for accessing said virtual world layerfunctionality further comprising segregating said user and said furtheruser.
 19. The method for providing virtual world functionality to a userof claim 1, further comprising: providing a further virtual world layerhaving further virtual world layer functionality beyond said virtualworld layer functionality; and encapsulating said further virtual worldlayer within said virtual world module.
 20. The method for providingvirtual world functionality to a user of claim 19, further comprisingexecuting said virtual world module to provide user access to saidfurther virtual world layer functionality.